Foot propelled vehicle



Sept. 14, 1948. 5 J WOODS 2,449,266

FOOT PROPELLED VEHICLE Filed March 25, 19.47 5 Sheet 1 I N V EN TOR. fi'awzuel (IE 3067s, 252 6 7 BY S. J. WOODS FOOT PROPELLED VEHICLE Sept. 14, 1948.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 25, 1947 INVENTOR. kwuel MIL/5001"?) "By? Sept. 14, 1948. I 5 w s, 2,449,266

FOOT PROPELLED VEHICLE Filed March 25, 194.7 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 AQQJ Patented Sept. 14, 1948 UNITED STATE s PATENT OFFICE Foo'r PROPELLED VEHICLE Samuel J. Woods, Newport, R. I.

Application March 25, 1947, Serial No. 736,991

1 '7 Claims.

This inventionrelates to a novel construction of propellable wheeled vehicle of the foot operated type; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to achild's scooter form of vehicle which is equipped with pivoted foot treadles and cooperative means for transmitting the driving power, developed by actuation of said treadles, to the rear wheels of the vehicle.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel foot operated wheeled vehicle wherein pivoted foot-treadles areprovided to cooperate respectively with bell-crank means adapted to apply driving torque to the rear wheel axle'shaft of the vehicle through clutch devices cooperative with said axler shaft, so that the rear wheels of the vehicle are both simultaneously and constantly propelled by the alternated actionof said treadlesi Theinvention hastfor another object to provide 'a foot power transmission mechanism for the driving wheels of the vehicle, the operation of which is such that initial movementof the operative strokes of foot treadles, by actuation of the bell-crank means, produces maximum power, whileend phases of. said treadle strokes produces maximum speed. 1 i V.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly"enumerated, will be understood from thefollowingdetailed description of the same. i i V i An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in

which- I Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a foot operated wheeled vehicle according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the vehicle, drawn on an enlarged scale, but with parts broken away; Fig. 3 is a plan, view of the vehicle with parts broken away; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section, taken on line 4--4 in Fig. 2, but drawn on an enlarged scale; Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken on line 5 -5 in Fig.3,

but drawn on an enlarged scale, and showing an initial positionof the power transmission means; and Fig.6 is a'view similar to that of Fig. 5, but showing" said power transmission means at the end of anoperative movement thereof.

Similar characters of-reference are employed in the 'hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

"Referring to the drawings, the vehicle of this invention comprises a frame structure formed by laterally spaced; longitudinally extending side members Ill, which are connected attheir front and rear end portions by transverse members ll.

Centrally disposed intermediate the side members H} of the frame structure are laterally spaced, longitudinally extending supplementary frame bars l2.

Suitably secured between the frame bars l2 adjacent the forward end of the frame structure,

is a bearing column l3, in which is journaled a steering post I4. Affixed to the lower end of the steering post It is a fork l5 between the arms of which is supported anaxle it upon which the frontwheel ll of the vehicle is rotatably mounted. The steering post l4 extends upwardly from the frame structure, and suitably secured to the upper end portion thereof are handle bars I8 or equivalent means for rotating the steering post, whereby to turn the front wheel I! for controlling the direction of movement of the vehicle. Said steering post It is further supported by an upper bearing member, l9, which is in turn supported by stay rods 20 which respectively ext-end between the side members ID of the frame structure and said upper bearing member l9.

Mounted across the rearward end portion of the frame structure isan axle shaft H on the respective ends of which are mounted the rear,

wheels 22 of the vehicle, preferably by means of one-way clutch devices (not shown), which wheels serve as the driving wheels of the vehicle. At least the intermediate portion 23 of said axle shaft is preferably of polygonal cross sectional. shape, such, e. g., as of the hexagonal shape,

shown.

The propulsion. of the vehicle is effected by v means adapted to rotate the axle shaft 2|, andthe rear wheels 22 affixed thereto, from pivoted foottreadle members which are adapted to be operated by the feet of the rider of the vehicle.

To this end, a transverse fulcrum shaft 24 is supported by the frame structure rearwardly adjacent to the steering post l4, and pivotally mounted on said fulcrum shaft 24, by the hinging knuckle members 25 thereof, are apairof laterally spaced, rearwardly extending and normally upwardly inclined foot treadles 26. The power transmission means, which is adapted to be actuated by said foot treadles 26, comprises Each said bell-crank member therewith, and a rearwardly extending draft arm 36. The foot treadles are each provided, at their under sides, with thrust means 3i having anti-friction rollers 32 to bear upon the cam arms 29 of the respective bell-crank members with which said treadles cooperate.

The bell-crank members 2! are respectively adapted to cooperate with clutch mechanisms arranged to be respectively actuated thereby. Each clutchmechanism comprises a driver clutch member 33 which is mounted on the axle shaft 2| to rotate about the axis thereof, and which drives a driven clutch member 34 which is affixed to said axle shaft, preferably by the axial' opening thereof which conforms to the hexagonal portion 23 of the latter. The driver and driven clutch members may be of any suitable type or design, but preferably, as shown, the driver clutch member comprises a star-wheel, having wedge teeth 35, which rotates within the cylindrical drum section 36 of the driven clutch member 3 1; Disposed intermediate said wedge teeth 35 and drum section 3% are clutch rollers 31.- As will be understood, when the driver clutch member- 33- is rotated in driving direction, which 7 is counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 2, the wedge teeth 35 will force-the clutch rollers 31 into grippingrelationtothe drumsection '36 of thedriven clutch member 34, thus imparting the-motion of the driver clutch member 33 to the latter and through it to the axle shaft and rear wheels of the vehicle. When the driver clutch member rotates in the opposite -or' clockwise direction, the wedge teeth 35 relaxclutching-pressure upon the clutch rollers 31, so that the-latter disengage-the drum section 36- of the driven clutch member '34, thereby allowing free or coasting" movement thereof. Unitary with each driver clutch member 33 is a clutch driving sprocket wheel (ill-"with and around which is engaged a pull chain section 39 "having an 'end All thereof suitably anchored oraiiixed to the-body of' said sprocket wheel. The outer ends of the pull'chain sections 39 of the respective clutch mechanisms extend forwardly-toward the draft arms 30 of the respective bell-crank members-2T,'bei-ng connected tothe' free ends 'of the latter, pref'erabiy by'a link or connecting rod 4| ass'hownv The operative movement imparted to the clutch driving sprockets 38 by the bell-crank members 2 7 as actuated by the foot 'treadles. '26-- is in counter-clockwise direction. Spring a'ctuated'mea-ns is provided for cooperation with each clutch mechanism to efiect reverse or recovery movements of theclutch driving sprockets, bellcrank members 2"! and treadles- 26. Each saidspring' actuated means comprises a transverse stub shaft 42 which is afiixedto'the frame structure behind the axle shaft 21 and its driving clutch mechanisms. 'R'otatabl'y mounted on said stub shaft 42 is a chambered spring drum 43 within: which ishoused a spiral sprin 4!. The inner end of said spring is suitably anchored to the stub shaft 42 at 45, and its outer end to the spring drum wallat lfi. Unitarywith said spring drum so' as to rotate therewith, but: dispose deccentric'to the axis of'said drum. in downwardly offset relation to the normal initial position. of the: drum wherein they contained; spring 44: is rela-xe'd (see: Fig. is a winch barrel 41'. .Affixed' byoneend lB to the'peripheryof said .winchibarrel, so. as to be wound on the same, Wherrit is d-isposedinits normal initial position, is a, preferably'metallic, flexible pull strap-49 or "equivalen-t flex'ible pull means. Said pull: strap 49 ex-' rection of vehicle movement,

tends to the adjacent clutch mechanism, to the hub 50 of the driver clutch member 33. The outer end 5| of said pull strap is suitably anchored to the periphery of said hub 50, subject to Winding about the same when the driver clutch member is rotated in axle shaft driving direction.

The rear end part of the frame structure is provided withwalplatform 52 extending over the topthereofi In the use and operation of the vehicle according to this invention, the rider stands upon the 'foot treadles 26, while using the handle bars l8 both to support the body and to control the di- By alternately bearing his weight upon the treadles 26 coupled with treading-moti0n of the legs, said treadles are caused to alternately descend and rise. As a treadle descends, it thrust means is moved down against the cam arm 29 of the bell-crank membenZT-Withwhich said treadl'e cooperates. Thedown thrust of the: treadl as'thus transmitted to the: bell-crank causes-the same to turn about its fulcrum shaft'28 in clockwisedirection, thus swingingidown the drain arm 30. The down swinging movement r of the bell crank draft arm exerts: 'aforward draft or pull upon thevlinkn-H; and pull chain 39 connected therewithpthus'caum ing-said-puIl chain tourotatethe sprocket 3'8 of the clutch mechanism: which :is. served thereby. Such rotation of the. sprocket is transmittedto the. driver clutch 33,. so that its star wheel is. rotated in: corresponding direction: whereby to causes the wedge teeth .35 to force the: clutch. rollers 31 .intm'grippingxre'lattion to the drum section'36 orztherdriven. clutch member 34} When thus-driven, the motiun'or. saidclutch: member 34 is transmitted to the axle "shaft. 23-2|,, and;uthroughrthevlatter, toboth of the rear :wheelsi22-:of.l.t2he :;vehicle which are fast on: said axle. shaft; so that traction :of said-rear Wheels forwardly propels the=vehicle'..

Due; tor alternate actuation of 'th-e. treadles;-

associated: springactuated; retracting-means.

a clutch mechanism rotates in its power transvmitting; :Dhase, the :puitlistrap: of. its. associated spring: actuatedaretracting means will: .wind about: the hub 50 of the driver clutch member 33-,thus producing. a counter-clockwise rotation of the spring drum '43 operative to tighten the spiral spring- 44-, wherebyto bring the latter-into-a condition of stored tension. ready for a subsequent retracting action. Due-to the eccentricrelatien of thewinch barrel relative to the spring drum 4 3, the spring winding leverageexertedby said xwinchibarrellis ata minimum .at'the start of the spring..winding operationjbut said leverage. progressively lengthens and its power increasesv substantially proportionally to the. increasing tensional resistance .013 the. spring. to winding ac.- tion. As aiconsequen ce. ofthis, instead .of' necessity .ior exerting increasing pressure of th root uponrthe descending. ,treadle, order to overcome the increasing resistancezof the-winding spring, withwattendant loss of 1 energy delivered through thewcl-utch.v mechanism to the driving; wheels'aof the. vehicle;tires pressurerequired. to be. exerted. upon. .thai-treadle to... overcome 1 spring.

1 resistannewillzbesubstantially:equalizedzthroughaout the amplitude of the operative stroke of the Due to the cooperative functioning of the foot treadles and bell-crank members, the power transmission effect thereof as applied to the axle shaft and driving wheels of the vehicle is adapted to apply variable torque to the latterwith variable power and speed production effect; Such desirable results are due to the fact that, at the startof 'the operative stroke of a treadle, the thrust of the latter upon the cam arm 29 of a bell-crank member is" applied adjacent the outer end thereof, the point of maximum lev'erageeffe'ct, whilethe draft arm 30 ofthe bell-crank member is in line with the pull link and chain connectionthereof with a clutch mechanism. By reasoh'of'the initial maximum leverage effect thus occurring at the beginning of the operative stroke of a treadle, torque of maximum power is transmitted to the axle shaft and vehicle driving wheels by the starting movement of said treadle. As a treadle descends, however, the thrust point of engagement thereof with the cam arm 29 moves downward along the latter, while at the same time the sweep of the draft arm 30 increases; and since momentum of the Vehicle has at such time been initiated, movement of the bellcrank member will accelerate with like accelerating effect upon the clutch mechanism, axle shaft and vehicle driving wheels. It will therefore be understood that the treadles may be operated to obtain a multi-speed effect, that is maximum power at relatively slow speed, or high speed at minimum power expenditure. To illustrate the advantage of this mode of operation, if the vehicle is propelled along a substantially level surface, once motion is initiated, the actuation of the treadles may be limited to lower parts or phases of their operative strokes with relatively high speed propulsion effect. On the other hand, if the vehicle is propelled along an upgrade surface, the actuation of the treadles may be limited to the upper parts or phases of their operative strokes with maximum propulsive power effect at relatively slow speed.

I am aware that changes could be made in the above described constructions without departing from the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A foot propelled vehicle having a frame structure, a steering wheel and control means therefor mounted at the front part of said frame structure, a rotatable axle shaft mounted at the rear part of said frame structure and driving wheels mounted on said axle shaft, a pair of treadles pivotally mounted on the frame structure, bell-crank members pivotally supported in connection with the frame structure respectively beneath said treadles, each bell-crank member comprising an upwardly extending cam arm engageable by a treadle to receive actuating down thrust thereof and a rearwardly extending draft arm, clutch members each comprising a driven element fixed on the axle shaft and an oscillatable driver element cooperative with said driven element, clutch operating pull connections respectively interconnecting said driver elements with the draft arms of the respective bell-crank members, and a spring means operative in connection with each said driver element to effect recovery 6 movement "thereof and of thebell-crank member and treadle cooperative therewith. 2; A foot propelled vehicle having a from structure, a steering wheel and control means therefor mounted atth'e frontpartof said frame structure, a rotatable axle shaft mounted at the rear part of said framestructure and driving wheels mounted on said axle shaft, 1a pair of treadles pivotally mounted on the frame struc ture, bell-crank members pivotally supported' in connection with the frame structure respectively beneath said treadles, each bell crank member comprising an upwardly extending cam arm 'engageable by a treadle to receive actuating down thrust thereof and a rearwardly extending draft arm, roller clutch members, each clutch member comprising a driven element fixed on the axle shaft and an oscillatable driver element rotatable about the axle shaft, pull connections respectively interconnectingthe driver elements of the clutch members with the draft arms of the respective bell-crankmembers, and a spring means operative in connection'with the driver element of each said clutch member to effectre'covery move ment thereof and of said bell-crank member and treadle cooperative therewith.

3. A foot propelled vehicle as, defined in claim 1 wherein the recovery spring means comprises a spring drum cooperative with each clutch member, means for rotatably mounting each drum adjacent the clutch member served thereby, a spiral spring in each drum having its inner end anchored to the drum mounting means and its outer end to the drum, a winch barrel unitary with each drum but eccentric to the axis of rotation thereof, and a flexible connection interconnected between each winch barrel and the driver element of a corresponding clutch member.

4. A foot propelled vehicle as defined in claim 2 wherein the recovery spring means comprises a spring drum cooperative with each clutch member, means for rotatably mounting each drum adjacent the clutch member served thereby, a spiral spring in each drum having its inner end anchored to the drum mounting means :and its outer end to the drum, a winch barrel unitary with each drum but eccentric to the axis of rotation thereof, and a flexible connection interconnected between each winch barrel and the driver element of the corresponding clutch member.

5. A foot propelled vehicle having a frame structure, a steering wheel and control means therefor mounted at the front part of said frame structure, a rotatable axle shaft mounted at the rear part of said frame structure and driving wheels mounted on said axle shaft, a pair of treadles pivotally mounted on the frame structure, bell-crank members pivotally supported in connection with the frame structure respectively beneath said treadles, each bell-crank member comprising an upwardly extending cam arm and a rearwardly extending draft arm, each treadle having a thrust means including an anti-friction roller dependent from the underside thereof adapted to operatively engage the cam arm of the underlying bell-crank member, clutch members each comprising a driven element fixed on the axle shaft and an oscillatabledriver element cooperative with said driven element, clutch operating pull connections respectively interconnecting said driver elements with the draft arms of the respective bell-crank members, and a spring means operative in connection with the driver element of each clutch member to effect recovery 'mfinementzkherofiami of thesbeflicmnk'zmmnber and treadle cooperative therevmh.

1 ffiL A :foot emnpelied "vehiclex'h'aving 1a, flame structure, aa'ssteemng :wheel' 1851111 ncontml emeans whereforxmoumted at; (the front: part mfsaid frame :smueturei'ea wrotatable axle shaiemofuntedmon fohe meat-mart- :nf :said: :stnuc'tune an-d adriving wheels: mounted onzsaid; :axle shaifitzua palinof treadles :ptvotally mountedron the immeetnuctmexheilcrank members mivotafliy "supported in eurmectien with :the rframe structure respectively *beneamh said- Meadles, eaclm1 bell-"cramk member comprising an :upwaxdiy resxtending :cam "arm and a'azeamramdiy :xextending draft :anm, each: 'treadle having :a "thrust means including. an :anti'fniction mklendependend; ":from 'ftheunderside --:thereof aidazptedi'tmop'ezzat'ively engage theicaxm arm of the underlying: shell-crank member, smaller -:.c1uteh members, neach clutch member. eomprising a Vdmen jaelem'entl :fixed on the :axle shaft and an oscillatebled riwer element ?'rota,ta,b1-e about rt he axlegshalft, eaeh oseiliateble driver. element havmg-ev-hub; portion and a sprocketwunitary with portiom a Epullzchainafl'ixed 4:0 each hub apertfion 21:0. tmormailly t-extendmvfer =spfidckeh means to couple said pull chains respectively 1m cennection with xthe *edraft arms 10f the; respective "belt-crank members, and a spring means' 01m astivea-in connection with :the' hub ipontiemef the driver element-mi "eaichi clutch memberv w efieet recovery movement ef *s'aid driver F element and athe beIP-Tcrank memberand:treadlevcdeperabiweitherw with 7. A foottpropelledvehioleeasdefined imelaaim -fi wherein each neeovery spring means compniss e spring'edmm, 'meanstmr wotatablyunounflng-Sflid drum adjacent ton-the clutch member :senved thereby, a; spiral spring in said drumvhaving it's inner endenchored to the drum mounting means and its-:outer-end to thedrum a, -winchbarrel unitary with said drum but eccentric to Etheaxis of rotation ,thereoL and a: flexible vppull -,-s\,1a1: *secured by one end to said winch-barrelinxnormakl woundrelataion theneto anddby dbs -etaherhend to tyheahub penbien of the driver element of the connespqndingeluteh member.

3.. wows; 

